Sentinel - Disney World draining, filling in long-abandoned River Country pool

[PhotoDave219]

Disney World draining, filling in long-abandoned River Country pool

From Sandra Pedicini:

Walt Disney World is draining and filling in the pool at its long-closed River Country water park.

The 330,000-gallon Upstream Plunge was a major attraction at the now abandoned water park. It is surrounded by manmade boulders for jumping and diving platforms.

Opened in 1976, River Country closed in 2002 after Disney's newer water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, became more popular.

The Internet has been filled over the years with photos and videos of the ghostly area. In March, BuzzFeed ran a series of pictures from photographer Seth Lawless that showed waterslides covered in weeds and algae in the Upstream Plunge.

"It's actually surprising that it's taken them this long" to fill in the pool, said Scott Smith, assistant hospitality professor at the University of South Carolina.

Disney said it has no immediate plans to tear down any other remaining parts of the park, some of which can be seen from Bay Lake. Disney said the work had been planned for a while now.

The pool backs up to Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Disney's Fort Wilderness campground. It is a potential liability, Smith said.

"Just one small child gets away from their parents and falls in there, now you have another tragedy," he said.

Disney already had one child die this year, when an alligator attacked a toddler in June on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Also, standing water can attract mosquitoes - a growing concern as cases of non-travel-related Zika virus are popping up in Florida. Disney said the work at River Country is unrelated to Zika.

There has also long been speculation that the area could eventually be developed into more Disney Vacation Club timeshare units.​

 

[Nemo14]

There has also long been speculation that the area could eventually be developed into more Disney Vacation Club timeshare units.​

BINGO!

 

[Pirate665]

You should know, if it's to do with DVC, they'll always build more.

 

[Captain Neo]

DVC has completely destroyed the look of bay lake. This is incredibly sad. I'm just going to stop going to WDW at this point since they're pretty much only focused on building and selling DVC timeshares and not creating an immersive vacation kingdom for guests.

 

[PhotoDave219]

BINGO!

Possible echo chamber effect with the rumors coming from here.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Think this is more about Zika coming to Orlando. That place has misquote breeding ground all over it. Saying that because of the timing.

I agree. I just think that if they flat out say "were doing it for zika precautions" Somebody somewhere is going to be like "OMG theres zika at disney world!!!!!"

 

[tissandtully]

I agree. I just think that if they flat out say "were doing it for zika precautions" Somebody somewhere is going to be like "OMG theres zika at disney world!!!!!"

I'm more worried about the Brazilian travelers than the mosquitos.

 

[mouse_luv]

No matter what the reason, it's good move for safety reasons.

 

[mouse_luv]

I've been there and you can't just wander in, over or under anything or I would have. It's less dangerous then any other water at WDW.

I agree but there are so many videos of people getting in there. If Disney is taking precautions citing that they don't want a child wandering in there then it's probably a valid point. Just sayin'. <shrug>

 

[mouse_luv]

It for the children, most over used sentence ever.

It like when drug prices go up hugely on a drug.

Answer: The money is for new research for drugs that will cure horrible diseases, we will give support to those who are having trouble affording our drug.

The children of tomorrow may not have to live with these horrible health problems that our research may solve.

It's for the children, don't you like children? Do you want the children harmed? Etc. etc. all BS.

The way to get in is from the front through the water, that's the easy route if you want to get wet.

 

[roj2323]

Seems to me like it would have been an ideal habitat for Alligators so it's not a bad idea to fill it in. They probably should have done it years ago.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Seems to me like it would have been an ideal habitat for Alligators so it's not a bad idea to fill it in. They probably should have done it years ago.

Shall they fill in Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon for the same reason?

 

[Next Big Thing]

Shall they fill in Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon for the same reason?

No, but those serve a purpose. This is just sitting there, abandoned. There's no reason NOT to do this, especially if it's preventative measures against Zika as I suspect.

Letting Discovery Island and River Country go abandoned and become taken over by nature has messed with the ecosystem of Bay Lake and SSL. The infestation of wildlife wouldn't be so severe had they taken these steps close to 20 years ago.

 

[Mad Stitch]

There is so much stagnant water in Florida, this will be next to nothing in preventing mosquito breeding. I agree this is for the long term outlook of building a DVC at that location.

 

[Next Big Thing]

There is so much stagnant water in Florida, this will be next to nothing in preventing misquote breeding. I agree this is for the long term outlook of building a DVC at that location.

This is almost certainly to be proactive against any cases of Zika originating from WDW property. That would be horrible press. This way Disney can say "Well, we tried to prevent it..."

Yes, it helps in the long term for a DVC, but that's obviously not what this is for. If it was, they'd be demolishing all the slides and man-made structures, which they are not.

 

[Mad Stitch]

This is almost certainly to be proactive against any cases of Zika originating from WDW property. That would be horrible press. This way Disney can say "Well, we tried to prevent it..."

Yes, it helps in the long term for a DVC, but that's obviously not what this is for. If it was, they'd be demolishing all the slides and man-made structures, which they are not.

There is no need to demolish anything at the site. That will come when they begin to prep the site for construction. Filling in a large hole in the ground gives the soil time to naturally compact and settle.

 

[Next Big Thing]

There is no need to demolish anything at the site. That will come when they begin to prep the site for construction. Filling in a large hole in the ground gives the soil time to naturally compact and settle.

That was sort of my point. None of this is for a DVC. We would LONG know if they were about to build a DVC there.

 

[asianway]

DVC has completely destroyed the look of bay lake. This is incredibly sad. I'm just going to stop going to WDW at this point since they're pretty much only focused on building and selling DVC timeshares and not creating an immersive vacation kingdom for guests.

I'd say the look of seven seas lagoon is the bigger tragedy

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

I wonder if this is step one of demo-ing the whole Country.

 

[Nemo14]

I wonder if this is step one of demo-ing the whole Country.

Exactly! They can claim this is because they care about protecting their guests, thus generating some much needed good PR, and then follow through with plans for even more DVC atrocities. It's a win-win!